Thursday, April 22, 2010

Here at Ronald McDonald House Charities, we are committed to create, find and support programs that directly improve the health and well being of children and we make a difference in the lives of nearly 4 million children a year. We do this through our core three programs, and this month we are highlighting one of them, the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile. An estimated 17 million low-income children in America go without dental care every year. We are helping families combat the "silent epidemic" of dental disease through its Ronald McDonald Care Mobile program. These are clinics on wheels that offer affordable health care for children, right in their our neighborhood. Having a credible voice like yours share our story will help us tremendously to continue to create awareness and understanding of our organization.

An Economic Impact Study conducted in 2007 by Dennis H. Tootelian, Ph.D. professor of marketing and director of the Center for Small Business in the College of Business at California State University, Sacramento revealed that the RMCM impact is enormous:

·Ten years after the launch of the first RMCM, the program is now offering “health care on wheels” through 38 communities in the United States, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America, and has plans to expand both domestically and internationally.

·On average it serves 150,00 children in vulnerable populations per year.

About the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile in the U.S:

·Serves mainly children who might not otherwise receive dental care and medical education since 60% do not have health insurance. Or, if these children do receive care it is likely to be in more expensive venues such as hospital emergency departments.

Serves children who are in need of more significant care since 11.9% are referred to specialists.

25% of children receive medical screening and treatment; 42% of children receive dental screening and treatment; and 33% receive health education.

Average time spent with a child is 24 minutes for medical care, 32 minutes for dental care, and 17 minutes for education – this is quality time spent with a doctor.

Based on estimated market rates for basic pediatrician and dental services, families save $10 million in medical and dental costs annually by visiting a Ronald McDonald Care Mobile.

if it is assumed that 10% of the children seen would have had to seek medical care in an Emergency Room/Emergency Department of a non-trauma care hospital, the cost would have been $14 million.